Are you experiencing pain in your shoulder, elbow, or wrist? Is it difficult to reach, lift and hold things in your everyday routine? Regardless of where you are feeling pain in the upper extremity, our team of occupational therapists at Synergy Therapeutic Group can help!
Determining whether your pain results from a specific injury or the cumulation of repetitive stress is the key to resolving your condition. Getting to the root cause of your situation and identifying the underlying trauma or inflammation of the arm’s tendons, cartilage, or nerves can mean the difference between a quick resolution and long-standing pain.
While the pain may feel serious, in most cases, it’s entirely curable. For some people, the intensity of the pain is so severe that doing routine activities of daily living seems impossible. Fortunately, our occupational therapists have extensive training and experience treating all types of pain and injuries to the upper extremities.
Call Synergy Therapeutic Group today, call to request an appointment, and let our therapist help you find solutions to get back to living the life you enjoy without worrying about the pain!
What is causing the pain?
When the pain seems to come out of the blue, it can be more challenging to pinpoint the actual cause or causes of your problem. This is why it is critical to seek help from an occupational therapist sooner than later! A specific trauma or accident often makes finding the source of the pain a bit easier.
Shoulder pain: Limited shoulder Pain Due to movement, stiffness, or weakness can affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities (eating, dressing, personal hygiene) and work responsibilities. Factors such as heavy lifting, repetitive movements (especially in awkward positions), and vibrations influence the severity of symptoms and disability.
The most common causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction are:
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Cartilage/labrum injuries
- Degeneration/arthritis and bone spurs
- Tendinopathies
Aching or stiffness around the front or the side of the shoulder is often due to a tendon/rotator cuff injury. In comparison, pain in the back of the shoulder is likely coming from the joint itself. Although some think the top part or shoulder blade is the “shoulder,” they refer to muscles and/or the neck, not the shoulder itself.
Elbow pain: Often, sports, hobbies, and jobs require repetitive movements that are often responsible for the typical patterns of overuse injuries to the elbow. The leading causes of elbow pain and dysfunction are:
- Tendinopathy (i.e., Tennis and Golfer’s elbow)
- Ligament sprains and tears (i.e., ulnar collateral ligament injuries)
- Degeneration/Arthritis
- Broken and/or dislocated elbow
The inner and outer parts of the elbow are commonly thought to be where most people experience tendon or ligament injuries. Typically, the pain will be sharp at the junction of the tendon and bone but may refer to the forearm generally due to tendon-related injury or inflammation.
Wrist pain: Wrist pain is most common in groups participating in physically demanding activities like manual labor and jobs that require computer use or repetitive movements. The leading causes of wrist pain:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Degeneration/Arthritis
- Tendinopathies
- Fractures
A decreased range of motion is often associated with arthritis of the wrists. It may indicate a more severe condition: the more dysfunction and disability, the more your conditions warrant seeking help sooner than later. Still, weakness or clumsiness when gripping or holding onto things can be signs of deeper problems.
Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain are often the result of workplace injuries and repetitive stress injuries. While it is sometimes possible to take action to prevent an injury from developing, it is crucial to recognize when an injury develops and get help from our occupational therapists at Synergy Therapeutic Group.
Occupational therapy at Synergy Therapeutic Group
Getting to the root problem of the pain requires the expertise and experience of a skilled therapist. For some people, the pain is severe, and the typical treatment is strong medication or surgery. However, a growing body of evidence has shown that a conservative approach using exercise is as (and in some cases more) effective than surgery.
Our Synergy Therapeutic Group therapists can help figure out the best action to get relief. We will start with a comprehensive evaluation and physical examination. Using this information, we will design a program generally composed of three important phases: pain relief, strengthening, and functional integration.
Often our programs will incorporate manual therapy, joint mobilizations, and targeted exercise instructions for pain relief and improved functional mobility. We also emphasize education and techniques like custom braces and joint splinting to protect the injured area and improve function.
There will often be adaptations and modifications to how your activities are performed at home or work to ensure a positive outcome. Our therapist will cater your treatment plan around your specific limitations, restrictions, and weaknesses.
Ultimately, we strive to maximize your function while eliminating any pain you may be experiencing.
Request an appointment today!
Addressing the pain early on is the best way to prevent an issue from becoming more debilitating. Your Synergy Therapeutic Group occupational therapist will work closely with you to identify the root cause of your pain and help you find lasting relief once and for all!
Contact our clinic today to get started on a comprehensive treatment plan that will make you feel better in no time!
